CA CA - Barbara Thomas, 69, from Bullhead City AZ, disappeared in Mojave desert, 12 July 2019 #3

[steelybird]

"snipped by me" (I deleted part of the quote) and "bolded by me" (I made that part of the text bold for emphasis). Both are used when you want to reply to a particular part of a person's post.

Ohhhhhhh ok! Thanks so much

 

[Cherwell]

Apparently all she had with her was a beer.
Robert may have had a phone or camera and water in a backpack, but he claimed that all she was carrying was a beer. Imo

I was replying to someone who asked where she would put the rocks, if she collected any.
I didn't say she was carrying a bag, just that they might have had a carrier bag stashed in the backpack so that if she happened to find a few rocks, she had something to carry them in.

 

[MsBetsy]

Everything we know about where they were, what she was wearing, and what she was carrying comes from RT.

Correct.
We haven't even heard from anyone who saw them earlier that morning, or the day before or anytime for that matter.
All we know is that she had been in contact with her family and was planning on travelling to visit her brother very soon.
I wonder if they often socialized with others or mostly just did everything together. Imo

 

[leomoon]

I have to wonder if this means anything. Please follow this to the end.

July 22nd - The investigation continues into the whereabouts of missing person Barbara Thomas from SBSD - Colorado River Sheriffs Department : Nixle

snip

Then yesterday's dispatch log:

Dispatch Call Log – San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department

snip

7/26/2019 4:55:53 AM CR CR192070002 FU NAT KELBAKER RD/HIDDEN HILLS RD, KEL

So did they go back out there yesterday? Did they develop new leads?


ETA: FU means Follow Up

Why in the world would the San Bernardino Sheriff do a "follow up" at around 5 A.M. on the 26th? Perhaps before the hot weather which is understandable I supppose.

 

[MsBetsy]

I was replying to someone who asked where she would put the rocks, if she collected any.
I didn't say she was carrying a bag, just that they might have had a carrier bag stashed in the backpack so that if she happened to find a few rocks, she had something to carry them in.

Yes, maybe Robert was carrying all their supplies.
I was just replying to whether or not she had a camera or a small bag with her.
There's really no way to know, LE has said very little. Imo

 

[PommyMommy]

Well I think it was their duty to search, and they have. Perhaps they should extend that search to a different location...

Do you think there is even the slightest chance they quarreled and she took off for China? If so, it’s. Or inconceivable she isn’t keeping up with news here. Although I would hope there has been contact with her family there? I would think that was one of the boxes checked?

Amateur speculation and opinion

Yes, yes, yes. And, they have said as much. People would be screaming to high heaven if they did NOT do a thorough search out there. MOO

Cops insist they're examining 'all possibilities' after missing hiker's husband claimed he's suspect | Daily Mail Online
[...]

Despite the 72-year-old failing a lie detector test, the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department tells DailyMail.com they're focused on finding her using the details he provided about the grandmother's disappearance.

'At this time, our search efforts are directed on locating Mrs. Thomas in the area last witnessed by Mr. Thomas,' San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Public Information Officer, Jodi Miller told DailyMail.com Thursday when asked about his claim he was a 'prime suspect'.

[...]

Miller added to DailyMail.com: 'As with all of missing person cases we examine all possibilities with the desired outcome of locating the missing person.'

 

[artsy1]

Why in the world would the San Bernardino Sheriff do a "follow up" at around 5 A.M. on the 26th? Perhaps before the hot weather which is understandable I supppose.

The nearest sheriff station to the location is in Needles, which is over an hour drive away. So if they dispatched at 5 am, they probably wouldn't arrive until closer to 7 am.

 

[Cherwell]

So, hypothetically, they left at 8:15, dropped their dog off somewhere, grabbed a bite to eat and pulled over at Kelbaker or thereabouts around 11:00.
I suspect someone else was there right about that time.

I'm not sure that they would have eaten in a public place. They might have had breakfast before leaving - depends if they're early breakfast types (I'm not!) And they might be quite self-sufficient with their camper, and have supplies with them so no need to stop for food. At a restaurant or café, I mean.

 

[tara83]

A 69 year old woman doing this alone hiking back to their RV should not have been. He should have said, "I'll go with you" . This whole thing could have been prevented if he had been more thoughtful! I believe she is laying out there somewhere.

I don't believe she was ever there.

 

[Knox]

But she wouldn't be near the rocks, per Robert she was in front of him while he was taking pictures of the rocks.
Of course searchers would cover all bases though.

 

[rosesfromangels]

I don't believe she was ever there.

Agree
I’ve been wrong before, but I just can’t subscribe to this rendition

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[PaulR]

But she wouldn't be near the rocks, per Robert she was in front of him while he was taking pictures of the rocks.
Of course searchers would cover all bases though.

Searchers can't cover all bases. They cover the most probable ones given what they know. So someone who is more likely to be immobile is going to get a very different search than an experienced hiker who may just be lost and is making time going in the wrong direction.

 

[kay74]

I don't believe she was ever there.

You think he killed her and went out there by himself and took pictures!

 

[MsBetsy]

I think his description of her being in a bikini and carrying a beer goes to the lifestyle of living at the river. Very common attire and drink. Very normal there.

I think there are many places in the US where it normal.
At Fire Island it's actually uncommon to see someone wearing clothes. Even more uncommon to see someone without a drink. Except in the winter, of course.

Maybe Barbara is someone who feels comfortable wearing as little as possible. Wearing a bikini is a good way to do it legally. Imo

 

[MsBetsy]

One more:

It gives an insight in "she went around the corner" and of the specific area.
Sorry if already posted.

Wow, I haven't seen that, thanks for posting it.
I can definitely see how there would be many corners to go around now.

 

[DancingMuse]

BT, as described so beautifully by her relative on WS, sounds like a very creative, artistic and vibrant woman. I do hope and pray she will be found alive. Everyone on this thread putting forth their ideas should be commended, as the family has already said, it is a great support for them.

Some believe,…..that BT might never have been in the Mojave ....and it is totally understandable where Tara83 is coming from.

But before I get to that point, I need to entertain the notion that her husband might be telling the truth.

If that is the case. Then, she WAS in the desert, and she is STILL in the desert, as others, like Kay74 have posted. I’m agreeing with them too.

It could be that BT’s rock-hunting hobby got her into trouble.

From personal experience, as a collector of earth-artifacts for various purposes, ….I can attest to the rude surprises one can receive, when one is pulling a piece of wood, a large rock, or any other natural element ….out, from underneath brush.

My concern is that BT met up with a lethal animal, or a venomous insect, or harmful reptile which either bit, scratched or otherwise immobilized her quickly. Although unlikely in this case, a cornered creature, no matter how “low risk” they are described in the nature guide books, can become violent killers.

She could have been attacked, if an animal perceived her to have been a threat to their young, or invading their shaded, cool burrow, while she was foraging for objects intended for her artistic endeavors, in those moments while her husband was finishing his photos.

Even though it pains me to write this, BT could have survived the initial injury, and just been in shock. Or paralyzed. Nearby. Unable to yell for her husband. And then she might have been dragged under the brush by a larger animal, later. It is also possible another species of creature continued the process after dark, when it was cooler.

Mountain Lion?

Diamond Back RattleSnake? Or Gila Monster?

Scorpion? Bee hive? Wasp Nest?

Big horn sheep?

Bird of Prey?

Or some combination thereof?
​

Dangerous Animals in the Mojave

open incognito: Nevada's deadliest animals will surprise you

 

[Kapua]

Same here Rose.
I question the whole story. I guess that goes to deception of a lie detector test, right?

You can choose to believe the story as told. If you do, you believe that BT vanished off the face of the Earth, walking a clear trail back to the RV no more than half a mile away from where RT allegedly last saw her. You believe that he stopped to take a picture and was no more than a few minutes behind her.(How long does it take to take a few pictures?) To me, there is no way this makes sense.

I'm with you. I don't think BT was there. If she was, then she would have been abducted or hitched a ride in the few minutes that she was out of RT's sight. If abducted, the nefarious individual or individuals did not seem at all interested in rummaging through the RV. If hitched a ride voluntarily, she has not contacted friends, family, or LE to let them know she is safe. Again, this makes no sense to me.

What makes sense to me is that she is not there and something else happened. JMHO

 

[Kapua]

BT was not climbing rocks in a bikini with a beer in her hand. If you believe RT's story, she was walking a clear trail back to their RV, which was parked in a turnout on a wide road.

 

[Stragnet]

Why in the world would the San Bernardino Sheriff do a "follow up" at around 5 A.M. on the 26th? Perhaps before the hot weather which is understandable I supppose.

Usually search/arrest warrants are conducted at that hour.

 

[dbdb11]

You can choose to believe the story as told. If you do, you believe that BT vanished off the face of the Earth, walking a clear trail back to the RV no more than half a mile away from where RT allegedly last saw her. You believe that he stopped to take a picture and was no more than a few minutes behind her.(How long does it take to take a few pictures?) To me, there is no way this makes sense.....JMHO

BT, as described so beautifully by her relative on WS, sounds like a very creative, artistic and vibrant woman. I do hope and pray she will be found alive. Everyone on this thread putting forth their ideas should be commended, as the family has already said, it is a great support for them...My concern is that BT met up with a lethal animal, or a venomous insect, or harmful reptile which either bit, scratched or otherwise immobilized her quickly. Although unlikely in this case, a cornered creature, no matter how “low risk” they are described in the nature guide books, can become violent killers. She could have been attacked, if an animal perceived her to have been a threat to their young, or invading their shaded, cool burrow, while she was foraging for objects intended for her artistic endeavors, in those moments while her husband was finishing his photos.

I mentioned this elsewhere but, after hearing Robbie's story I was forced to consider Barb had been taken to the spirit world... that is how unbelievable it was to me. She turned a corner and... that was it.

I appreciate the sentiments and prayers you shared above.

I suppose I am forced to admit, a scorpion, mountain lion and coyote tag team is about as believable as 'she was abducted and taken to Vegas because she was wearing a bikini, had a beer in her hand, and she had to cross that road'.